Without Facts, Opinions Fall Short

Sunday

Jul 8, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By Glenn Marston

A sound opinion is built on a firm foundation of facts.People may draw different conclusions from the same facts. As long they avoid logical fallacies, and can show cause and effect, the more opinions the more valuable.These are basic lessons that Rick Scott, Florida’s governor and a lawyer, should learn.Solid opinions would serve Scott well as he travels the state and nation telling all who will listen that Florida will comply only with requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Optional portions of the law will not be used, Scott says.The Legislature may have something to say about that.Defensible opinions would help Scott make his case to the Legislature and people.How can one tell which assertions are factual?For major political matters, a font of facts with excellent explanation is Politifact. It is the fact-checking arm of the Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg. The Times publishes Politifact analyses of assertions in its newspaper and at www.politifact.com.In 2009, Politifact won the Pulitzer Price for National Reporting for its coverage of the 2008 election.Politifact has been following Scott and his statements: • In a June 29 interview with Greta Van Susteren on Fox News, Scott said, “I was in a business the other day, and they walked up to me and they said, ‘Governor, is this really going to become the law?’ ” He added: “ ‘Because if it does, we’re out of business. We have 20 employees. We know we won’t be able to buy any health care for anybody.’ ”Noting that businesses with fewer than 50 employees need not offer health insurance, Politifact rated Scott’s pitch “pants on fire.” That is the lowest rating, reserved for statements that are not only false but outrageously so.The next week, on July 2, Scott pressed forward with new statements in a media blitz that brought three more analyses.• No. 1: Scott told Fox News “we know the Congressional Budget Office said if you’re going to buy your own policy with these exchanges you’ll be paying 10 percent more, or a family will. So about $2,100 more for a family.”Politfact rendered a rating of “mostly false.” Scott omitted the fact that the new policies would offer an additional benefit of comprehensive coverage. When comparing equal-coverage policies, those under the Affordable Care Act would cost less.• No. 2: In an interview with Fox News, Scott said the act would ration health care, as in Canada and Great Britain.Politifact rated his assertion “false.” Canada pays health care bills, much like Medicare. In Great Britain, the government runs hospitals and employs doctors. The Affordable Care Act would not. There would be no more limits on coverage than under the current system.• No. 3: On CNBC, Scott said optional Medicaid expansion made available by the act would cost Florida $1.9 billion a year.Politifact rated Scott’s statement “false.” Using state figures and limiting them to the expansion only, Politifact counted an additional annual cost of $500 million, effective in 2020.If Scott would stick to the facts, he would either be able to make stronger arguments or conclude that he has no argument on some points.